Beneficial effects of robot-mediated class activities on a child with ASD and his typical classmates

Abstract

Objective: The current educational intervention investigates how the use of the educational robot as an assistive tool can aid young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder helping them strengthen relationships and improving their interaction with typically developing children.Method: For this purpose an interdisciplinary road safety program was implemented involving the construction, programming and operation of a 3D LEGO robot bicycle model.Results: The results showed that the use of educational robotics appeared to bring about a change in the indifferent attitude of the typically developing students towards the students with ASD. In addition in contributed to the development of the social, communicational and emotionsl skills of the child with ASD and lead to a reduction in his challenging behaviors.